Education in Emergencies Specialist at Plan International

August 20, 2020 Mary

Role Purpose

Plan International Nigeria aims to respond effectively, rapidly, and at significant scale to the core humanitarian needs of children and their families affected by the humanitarian crisis in the North-Eastern Nigeria.

Specifically, Plan International Nigeria aims to minimize disruption to formal and non-formal education systems and to restore formal education services; strengthen the proactive environment for children and their families including age and gender appropriate services during and after disasters; create opportunities for and build capacity of young people affected by the armed conflict to generate income and to improve their life skills; and to become a recognized actor in both linking related community-based interventions to national coordination and interagency mechanisms where Plan International Nigeria will gradually take on leadership functions.

Therefore, the EiE Specialist provides technical leadership to the Emergency Team and the Country Office on education response and recovery. He/she is responsible for developing and disseminating the EiE strategy; developing, leading and managing quality program design; and developing and testing tools that can be used in the field. The EiE Specialist is also responsible for improving operational systems, internal capacity building (including mentoring staff trained in EiE) and research on Education in Emergencies.

He/she is Plan International Nigeria’s focal point for EiE at state, national and global level and is expected to engage in networking with other agencies (NGOs and INGOs), UN bodies such as OCHA, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNHCR, Donors, institutions and foundations, government and other major or critical stakeholders.

This position holder works closely with the Regional Lake Chad Program Coordinator in the implementation of the Regional Lake Chad Programme Strategy (Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon) of Plan International, and with other members of the Emergency and Development Teams to advance children, adolescent and youth, especially girls rights during and after disasters.

Dimensions of the Role

In 2009, the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram became active in Northeastern Nigeria. The insurgency scaled up in 2010 when the group started suicide attacks as well as attacks on so-called soft targets in Borno and Adamawa States in Nigeria.

Since then, more than 500,000 Nigerians have fled to neighbouring countries of Niger, Cameroon and Chad, and 2.2 million were internally displaced -around 1.2 million children in Nigeria were forced to leave their homes, 50% of these children under the age of 5. The activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group have paralyzed most business activities, deepened poverty and dislocated a huge population of people.

Although the government has made some significant military gains against the group in recent time, the humanitarian situation remains deep and ravaging. The Education in Emergency (EiE) Specialist is expected to provide strategic leadership in education in emergency programming. He/she is responsible for the quality and effectiveness of Plan International Nigeria’s education emergency response in North-east of Nigeria.

The EiE Specialist strengthens the country office’s overall capacity to be prepared for and respond to educational emergencies in accordance with Plan’s principles and practices.

Accountabilities

Assessment, Programme Design and Planning:

Continually carry out assessment of education needs, develop and implement an Education in Emergency strategy that contributes to the country program’s overall emergency response objectives.

Work with other Technical Working Groups to identify key sectoral assessments to be undertaken.

Coordinate the development of all project implementation plans and budgets within the framework of the agreed Education in Emergency response program and strategy.

Ensure the Emergency Response Manager and the Head of Programs and Business Development are kept informed about assessment progress, emergency response implementation and strategies, project plans, progress reports, and other significant developments in the educational sector.

Ensure clear standards for EiE work are used in Plan International Nigeria, and consistent with international (e.g. INEE) best practices and Plan International Global Theme, particularly the development and use of quality benchmarks.

In collaboration with the Business Development Team at the Country Office, identify funding opportunities with national Offices and lead in the development and design of all external Education in Emergency response proposals, budgets and reports, and ensure they are completed to the highest possible standard.

Pro-actively network and build external relations and lead fundraising efforts and build up a portfolio of grants to finance a multiyear Education in Emergency (EiE) response plan in close coordination with the Business Development Team.

Identify opportunities and establish dialogue towards partnerships with other humanitarian agencies.

Increase the level of gender transformative programming in EiE at the Country Office level.

Provide support to Lake Chad Program Unit.

Education in Emergency Project Management and Implementation:

Champion the development of emergency projects that provide safe spaces for children and increase educational access particularly girls and the marginalized groups in emergency situations.

Ensure the delivery of high quality and relevant EiE interventions in emergency response.

Ensure adequate monitoring, reporting and acquittal of EiE activities in accordance with PLAN DRM strategy, policies and protocols.

Ensure that EiE activities are implemented in a coordinated and cohesive manner in line with work plans and donor commitments, and delivered on time.

Ensure EiE activities maintain minimum standards in accordance with the Sphere Charter, the Red Cross Code of Conduct, INEE Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies and the Core Humanitarian Standard.

Work with other thematic areas of the Emergency Response Program and Development team to build synergy and strong coherent Emergency Response and Recovery Program.

Regularly keep National Offices informed of EiE response progress and key humanitarian issues

Ensure that the Country Office EiE monitoring and evaluation framework is regularly updated.

General Management and Leadership:

Provide overall leadership for Plan International Nigeria in North-eastern Nigeria, Nigeria and West Africa in EiE programming by documenting and representing our work in these places.

Provide leadership to the interagency EiE Working Group in North-eastern Nigeria.

Lead Plan’s involvement with the Education Cluster Coordination mechanism and INEE.

Attend EiE inter-agency coordination and working groups meetings. Work collaboratively with UNICEF Education teams to advance common agendas for children.

Establish and maintain constructive working relationships with other NGOs, CSOs UN agencies, host government, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other principle stakeholders including the military where present.

Lead and represent Plan International Nigeria in relevant professional and sectoral networks, clusters, working groups, coalitions, and other regional forums, and use these fora to improve Plan’s relevance, to influence externally, and to build Plan’s professional profile.

Create the conditions to ensure effective teamwork with the other thematic areas in the emergency response program.

Regularly attend Emergency Response Team meetings and ensure follow up of action points.

Support country-wide disaster management capacity building initiatives

Ensure that as an emergency staff that you are fully and regularly briefed on all aspects of security, social and cultural norms and local conditions and behaviour of your operational environment.

Ensure that your line manager conducts your performance appraisal and provide you with regular feedback on your performance.

Ensure the Emergency Response Manager Country and Head of Programs and Business Development are kept informed about assessment progress, emergency response implementation and strategies, project plans, progress reports, and other significant developments related to EiE response.

Coordinate with other EiE experts in WARO and National Offices to ensure consistent and extensive engagement with the education cluster and associated networks.

Administration and Finance:

With support from the Finance and Administration Team, ensure to adhere to all finance policies and procedures.

Prepare EiE response budget, set the parameters and ensure expenditure and forecast are in line with plans.

Coordinate mobilization of financial resources related to EiE activities.

Be familiar with relevant protocols, their usage and procedures.

Advocacy:

In collaboration with other partners, identify key advocacy messages relating to the EiE response issues.

Co-lead with the Emergency Response Manager the development of EiE key advocacy messages in collaboration with Country Office, other partners, the regional DRM unit and IH DRM Department.

In collaboration with Plan Education colleagues, feed in learning, experiences and evidence to relevant global advocacy objectives.

Public Relations / Media / Representation:

With the support of the Emergency Response Manager work with the CO Communications Advisor in the development of constructive working relationships with media representatives to build international and public profile and ensure positive EiE coverage and the timely provision of situation reports and fundraising material to Plan’s International Headquarters and National Organizations.

Ensure that all EiE information, publicity and fundraising material recognises and respects the dignity of the affected persons.

Human Resource Development:

Support in the development and management of emergency response human resource protocols.

Ensure that as EiE Specialist that you understand and carry out your duties in accordance with humanitarian principles, Plan values, the Red Cross Code of Conduct and SPHERE.

Conduct performance appraisals of direct reports and ensure regular feedback and mentoring on individual performance.

Recommend changes to Emergency Response Team composition and functioning with Emergency Response Manager with the aim of maximizing emergency program quality and effectiveness.

Ensure to have suitable rest, relaxation and that your well-being is addressed.

Ensure team members receive thorough briefings and information.

Identity country and regional office staff with education-specific experience for inclusion in the Plan Emergency Response Roster.

Learning and Knowledge Management

Identify learning and training opportunities for Plan International Nigeria staff and partners, especially to help the Country Office Education Team prepare to respond in Emergencies.

Provide capacity building for Plan International Nigeria technical and operational staff in carrying out quality EiE programming.

Identify and develop training manuals, guidance documents, and toolkits on key Education in Emergencies issues.

Mentor/coach selected EiE staff to develop their capacity.

Facilitate access to internal and external EiE capacity-building opportunities.

Ensure the program good practices and lessons learned are shared within the organization

In collaboration with the Emergency Response Manager and HR Officer, develop capacity building plan for EiE staff.

Identify funding for EiE capacity building.

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility

This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their plan-international.orgRole Profile4area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are Open and Accountable:

Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.

Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.

Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.

Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.

Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We Strive for Lasting Impact:

Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.

Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.

Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.

Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We Work Well Together:

Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.

Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.

Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.

Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are Inclusive and Empowering:

We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential

We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace

We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

Key Relationships:

Emergency Response Manager; Country Director; Director of Programme Quality and Innovation, Director of Operations; Head of Finance; Procurement & Logistics Manager; Head of Human Resources; IH Disaster Preparedness and Response Manager; Regional DRM Manager.

Technical Expertise, Skills and Knowledge

Minimum of seven (7) years experience working in the area of Education in Emergency or with children at risk in complex and natural disasters. Minimum of five (5) years experience working in humanitarian settings or fragile contexts.

Demonstrated experience in leading assessment activities and of designing, managing, monitoring and evaluating education programs in emergencies for international NGOs.

Experience in applying relevant interagency humanitarian frameworks and standards in education in emergencies (for example INEE Minimum Standards).

Experience of and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability.

Ability to work both in advisory and hands-on implementation capacity.

Experience of representation, including Cluster coordination, and ability to represent Plan International Nigeria effectively in external forums.

Experience of preparing successful funding proposals for donors, with a focus on gender issues.

Ability to write a clear and well-argued assessment and project reports.

Experience in complex decision making and working in a multi-disciplinary, multi-national team under difficult circumstances.

The highest level of expertise in representation and negotiation with governments and donors.

Strong understanding of the humanitarian emergency operating context, including Sphere, the humanitarian system, donors, security, civil-military liaison and program management.

Core Competencies:

People Skills: Ability to work independently and as a team player who demonstrates leadership and is able to support and train local and international staff and also able to work with disaster-affected communities in a sensitive and participatory manner.

Communication Skills: Well developed written and oral communication skills. Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of Plan International Nigeria. This includes effective negotiation and representation skills.

Integrity: Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to Plan International Nigeria’s core values and humanitarian principles.

Resilience / Adaptability and flexibility: Ability to operate effectively under extreme circumstances including stress, high-security risks and harsh living conditions. Works and lives with a flexible, adaptable and resilient manner.

Awareness and sensitivity of self and others: Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity. Have experience and the ability to live and work in diverse cultural contexts in a culturally appropriate manner. Has a capacity to make accurate self-assessment particularly in high stress and high-security contexts.

Work style:Is well planned and organized even within a fluid working environment and has a capacity for initiative and decision making with competent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Knowledge and skills: knowledge of Plan International Nigeria and Global policies and procedures, Sphere and the Red Cross/ NGO Code of Conduct, humanitarian response, child protection and disaster risk reduction, international mechanisms for coordination and funding of education work in emergencies, and other organizations involved in this field. Requires general finance, administration, information management and telecommunication skills, and proficiency in information technology/ computer skills. Have also proven skills in training and facilitation, project management, advocacy and influencing, and networking. Demonstrates monitoring and evaluation skills, and has relevant language skills for the country of deployment.